In a five-star review, the Guardian’s Jack Seale, external said Small Prophets was “a pure, pure pleasure”
“If there is a message or a moral, it is that there are still wonderful things at hand in a world that might seem like it is running out of them,” he said.
“The existence of Small Prophets proves the point: that British telly can still create impossible marvels like this is a reason to keep believing in magic.”
Ben Dowell of The Times also awarded, external it five stars, describing Small Prophets as “the loveliest British comedy since Detectorists”.
“Even if this didn’t have a supernatural storyline, Crook is already a magician, someone whose joyous storytelling can make you feel strangely and intensely alive,” he said.
The blending of the mundane and the magical “may not suit every palate”, said the Telegraph’s Anita Singh, external in her four-star review, “but this is clearly a labour of love for Crook.”
“Admittedly, some components jar – a cackling colleague at the DIY store feels misplaced, and the final instalment of the six-part series takes an unwanted detour into horror.
“However, Quigley is wonderful; a character in whose company one would happily while away the hours.
Also awarding four stars, the Independent’s Patrick Smith advised, external readers: “If the show’s magical realism gives you pause, don’t be put off: you’ll be rewarded with something funny, strange, and surprisingly accessible.
“Like Detectorists before it, this is a series that wrings emotion from the commonplace and everyday – only this time, the treasure Crook has buried is altogether more peculiar. Small Prophets brings large returns.”
Small Prophets is available now on iPlayer.